Thursday, June 16, 2016

I recently purchased a pair of antique/vintage love seats. They are in great shape and I love the boxy Sheraton-like lines.

I thought it would be a good idea to have a pair of love seats because both the front two parlors have limited space in front of the fireplaces. I'm not sure which room they'll go in quite yet, but I hope to re-upholster them in a wonderful fabric. I'm thinking a fabric that has a period look but that is also quite bold, like a toile or a damask.

The existing fabric is in good condition, so there is an option to just slipcover them. But I've learned that the price is about the same for either option. Perhaps I'll re-upholster and then over time, have a slipcover made to use seasonally. I've always loved the idea of having something red to put on a sofa during the Christmas and winter season.

28 comments
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Hi Dianne, Yes and that was another thought - leave them be! If I did that, I would want to find a way to have them cleaned however because they are a bit musty/dusty. But yes, I love the grey blue fabric too.

Gasp! I don't know what to say about these loveseats other than I WISH THEY WERE MINE! Could not BE more perfect. The cushions are "behaving" [on sight] like pure down fill, oh man did you ever score on these! Whatever you decide to do w/ covering them will be the just right thing to do, you have perfect pitch in such matters.

Beautiful find!!! They are wonderful the way they are for now, but I can see wanting to change them; a silk velvet would be lovely. I love the idea you have for them. My mother inherited a Victorian sofa from my aunt, and it was reupholstered in a striped cream damask...the stripes are about three inches wide. It is beautiful, but now she wants to sell it. I am lobbying for her to keep it for me.

Wow! What a score. I would chose something that doesn't look too dated, I did that and just finished reupholstering everything over. Most of the furniture has a neutral color, so I could add my pops of color with pillows. Though there is one camel back sofa in a soft green, as I think of green as a neutral, almost everything looks good with it, look at nature. And one French chair and ottoman, that was done in Covington Canterbury Reversible Jacquard Antique Red, which would be absolutely beautiful on these settees. Can't wait to see what you do with them.

My livingroom walls are BM Lancaster Whitewash, and trim is BM Himalayan Trek, so it creates a light neutral background, very soothing, and isn't as bold as you think, but it's gorgeous, reverses to a light background with dark, I'll take a picture later today and email you. When I saw those settees, I immediately thought of that fabric.

That tulip pattern might be a a little too country living even for an editor of Country Living. I do like the colors of the existing fabric though. But under no circumstance would I ever vote against cranberry or blue toile. Although I can see the case for for having them match the Duncan Phyfe sofa too. How fun that you're allowed to start thinking about furnishing!

Nearly 40 years ago when we had our camel back sofa and love seat made for us I had them upholstered in a crewel Tree of Life fabric. At the same time, I had slipcovers made in polished cotton. The slipcovers went on in the summertime and I believe they are what kept that crewel in good shape for 30 years. I encourage you to have the slip covers made as close to the time you upholster as you can, as you will get a better fit.

What a lucky find. They are beautiful and seem to be in great shape. Smart plan - re-upholster then slipcover. I made the mistake of doing the opposite with a chair. When the chair was re-upholstered, the slipcover no longer fit :(

Lucky you to not only get one, but 2!!! You may have a third option, PAINT THEM!!! Annie Sloan paint allows you to use it on fabric, I painted several pieces of fabric with it and I also used it to dye fabric. Since you are going to re-upholster anyways, and they are in excellent shape, would be worth a try. Other paint companies have fabric painting products also.

Love them, and the shaker style leg gives you limitless direction to take them in, wish they were my find I would cover and slip them in a raw material and grey those legs giving them a bit of a Swedish feel...I am sure what ever direction you take them in will be fabulous,

A nice canvas neutral would work with your seasonal pillows and then a slip done in a period-style fabric for the heavier months of colder days where you can play up the greyer days in rich drama. Can't wait to see what you come up with?

I am on the hunt for such a project of my own to do similar to what you are doing here to these sweet settes.